Taste & Smell
Description
In this simulation, participants will be able to simulate the age-related changes associated with taste and smell. Although taste and smell are considered as less important senses (1), 75% of people over the age of 80 have major problems with their sense of smell, which then impacts older adult’s sense of taste (2). Moreover, age-related changes can contribute to behavioural issues, decrease the pleasure of eating, puts the ageing population in unsafe situations, and affect personal hygiene (1). Participants will experience some age-related disorders of smell in the “Sniffing it Out” simulation and taste in the “Day with Denture'' simulation to help increase an understanding of what it can be like for older adults that live with these disorders.
Smell Simulation #1 SNIFFING IT OUT
In the “Sniffing It Out” simulation, participants will experience hyposmia and anosmia. Hyposmia occurs when an individual loses part of their ability to smell and is the most common issue with the sense of smell. Anosmia is a complete loss of smell. Hyposmia and anosmia typically occur when there is swelling or blockage in the nose, which prevents the individual from being aware of surrounding odours. The loss of smell can lead to a decrease in appetite, which may contribute to weight loss and malnutrition in the ageing population (1). The goal of the simulation is to increase empathy towards older adults that have experienced an age-related decline in their sense of smell.
Materials
- 1 Surgical/Cotton Mask
- 3 Cups
- 1 Bottle of Hot Sauce
- 1 Bottle of Yogurt
Procedure
- Put the yogurt into cup 1 and hot sauce into cup 2.
- Leave cup 3 empty.
- Put on a surgical/cloth mask.
- Smell cup 1 (containing yogurt).
- Smell cup 2 (containing hot sauce).
- Smell cup 3 with nothing in it.
- Remove your mask and smell the three cups again.
- Compare the differences in odor intensity.
Simulation Video
Duration of Simulation - 3 minutes.
Reflection Questions
- Can you understand how age-related changes to smell can impact your appetite?
- Do you think a decrease or loss of smell can have a negative effect on psychological well-being? How so?
- Has this experience allowed you to relate to someone that is currently living with these smell impairments?
Taste Simulation #1 DAY WITH DENTURES
In the “Day with Dentures'' simulation, participants will experience hypogeusia, which is a reduction in all taste modalities (3), with a particular focus on salt perception. Participants will also experience dysphagia, which is difficulty swallowing (1) and eating with dentures. The goal of the simulation is to help evoke empathy towards older adults that experience hypogeusia and dysphagia as these age-related disorders impact their everyday lives.
Materials
- 2 Dental Gauze/Cotton Balls
- 1 Salty Food Item (ex. Saltine crackers, pretzels, chips)
- 1-2 Pieces of Sour Food Item (ex. Candy, citrus fruit)
Old-Old
- 2 Dental Gauze/Cotton Balls
- 1 Chewy Food Item (ex. Candy, chewy vitamins, beef jerky)
- 1 Soft Food Item (ex. Banana, bread)
- 1 Bottle of Liquid (ex. Water, milk, juice)
- 1 Scarf or Headband
Procedure
Middle-Old
- Place the two pieces of dental gauze or cotton balls between your lips and gums, on either side of your mouth, this is done to simulate what it is like to wear dentures.
- Attempt to eat the sour food item (ex. Candy, citrus fruit)
- Attempt to eat the salty food item (ex. Saltine crackers, pretzels,
chips). - Eat a piece of the sour candy, followed by the saltine cracker.
Old-Old
- Place the two pieces of dental gauze or cotton balls on each side of your mouth along the gums.
- Wrap the scarf/headband along the frame of your face
- Attempt to eat the chewy food item (ex. Candy, chewy vitamins,
beef jerky). - Attempt to eat the soft food item (ex. Banana, bread).
- Attempt to drink the liquid (ex. Water, milk, juice).
Simulation Video
Duration of Simulation - 3 minutes.
Reflection Questions
- Can you understand how age-related changes to taste can impact your appetite?
- Do you think taste can have an effect on psychological and physiological well-being? How so?
- Has this experience allowed you to relate to someone that is currently living with these age-related taste disorders?
